When was The Taming of the Shrew written?
The play has been dated as early as 1594 and as late as 1598, but 1596 seems to be the most plausible date of composition. In September 1598, Francis Meres published his Palladis Tamia, in which he mentions Shakespeare and, specifically, The Merchant of Venice. Shakespeare makes a reference to a ship called the St. Andrew (I.i.27) – a real Spanish ship captured in the sack of Cdiz in 1596. Salerio says, “See my wealthy Andrew docked in sand, veiling her high-top lower than her ribs to kiss her burial” (1.1.27). So it seems logical that the play was written in 1596 or shortly after.
